New Castle Chapter of Red Hat Society
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This article is compliments of the Courier-Times local newspaper article ran on 3/30/2013
Displaying their HATTITUDE 'Happy Hatters' are 'girls' who want to have fun | |||
Donna Cronk
Neighbors Editor With their bright red hats and even brighter purple clothing, Red Hat Society ladies are hard to miss. In New Castle the Happy Hatters chapter, members get together monthly to enjoy such things as lunch, take a little day trip, shop, visit and laugh together. Led by Sandra Wills, deemed "queen mother" of the group, the women reorganized with the new chapter name in January 2012. They regrouped after 11 years as the MADD Hatters, formed by Lee Ann Wallen, who remains a member. "They were 'MADD' for 10 years so now we're happy," jokes Wills about the name change. About 60 women are affiliated with the group. To be an official Red Hatter, a woman needs to be 50. But associate members are welcome and known as "pink hatters." One of those who enjoys the group is Candy Stevenson of Lynn. "They're young ladies," she says of her red-hat mentors. "They still have their youth with them. They're full of life and stories." Says member Pam Carroll of Muncie, "I like places that we go. I enjoy it." She has been a member for a year, joining alongside her sister, Joan Sexton of New Castle. 'Joyful Ladies' Barbara Cross of New Castle has also been in the fold for a year. "I just enjoy the friendliness, all the friendly ladies. It's just fun to get together with a bunch of joyful ladies every month." Says member Cleta Baker of New Castle, "I love it. The ladies are all real nice." When asked the general membership what they like about the group, the members started calling out attributes: Laughter, craziness, you get to do whatever you want, dressing up and "just a good day out with the ladies. Some of their activities include visiting the Warm Glow Candle Outlet at Centerville; the Vintage Rose Tea House in Greenfield; Bearcreek Farms in Northern Indiana; attractions in Fountain City and The Old Richmond Inn. Their Christmas gathering is at Glen Oaks Senior Living at Forest Ridge. Dues are kept affordable at $5 each and the money goes to pay for their holiday meal and for fun. Members are Sue Bailey, Cleta Baker, Liz Baker, Mary Bell, Rose Branham, Pamela Carroll, Theresa Cox, Barbara Cross, Carolyn Davis, Yvonne Delk, Jean Dishman, Patty Gibson, Carol Hamilton, Gerri Haynes, Lula Haynes, Elaine Hinton, Ermon Hinton, Wilma Hunt, Marilyn Kissick, Sally Milne, Ida Reynolds, Candy Stevenson, Vicki Thomson, Sheila Turner, June VanBuskirk, Lee Ann Wallen, Sandra Wills and Kay Witham. Anyone interested in joining is welcome to contact Wills at 529-2067. Says the queen mother, "We're just girls that want to have fun." |
